What it means
Bitwarden's encrypted JSON exports can be Account restricted or Password protected. Account restricted ties import to the same originating account and its encryption state. Password protected uses a separate password and is intended to permit import into a different Bitwarden account.
A real-world example
You intend to keep a disaster-recovery copy after deleting an old account. An Account restricted export may become unusable in that situation; choose Password protected and store its export password separately.
What to do
Before exporting, decide whether the objective is same-account backup or cross-account recovery. Verify the chosen option, export scope and storage location, and protect the downloaded file.
The distinction that matters
Both formats are encrypted, but neither automatically captures every attachment or organizational item. Exporting to an untrusted shared computer still risks leaving copies of the file or password behind. Bitwarden documents the account restriction and the distinct password-protected path.
Bitwarden's export comparison
